Avoid, assess, reduce and TILE for handling objects β Reference Guide
Scope: objects only. This guidance covers the handling of inanimate objects, materials and loads.
Object-handling risk assessment supports a decision about the task, people and controls. It must account for actual conditions and lead to effective action.
Hazard, harm, risk and control
- Hazard: something with the potential to cause harm, such as repeated collection from a low pallet.
- Harm: the possible injury or ill health, such as a back or shoulder strain.
- Risk: the chance of harm and its possible seriousness in the circumstances.
- Control: a change that removes or reduces risk, such as adjusting supply and destination heights.
Avoid, assess, reduce
The handling-control hierarchy: avoid hazardous handling where reasonably practicable, assess what remains, and reduce remaining risk as low as reasonably practicable.- Avoid hazardous manual handling so far as reasonably practicable. Delivery, storage and process design can remove some journeys and transfers.
- Make a suitable and sufficient assessment of unavoidable operations.
- Reduce injury risk as low as reasonably practicable through task design, suitable aids, load changes, layout and work organisation. Instruction and technique supplement those controls.
See HSE manual handling duties.
TILE factors
Task, Individual, Load and Environment are connected prompts for looking at the whole handling operation.- Task: distance, frequency, duration, lift heights, reaches, turns, start/stop effort, pace and recovery.
- Individual: capability, experience, instruction, supervision, fatigue, health changes and agreed adjustments.
- Load: mass, dimensions, contents, stability, handholds, heaviest side and sharp, hot or slippery surfaces.
- Environment: floor, slopes, lighting, doors, clearances, traffic, weather and destination.
TILE is a reminder of relevant factors, not the entire assessment. Load mass or grip recorded as unknown remains unresolved until reliable information is available. Weight alone cannot establish safety; HSE screening values are not universal safe lifting limits. See HSE assessment guidance.
Recording and review
Relevant findings include who could be harmed and how, controls already in place, further actions, responsible people and timing. Existing controls and proposed changes must be distinguished. A prediction about risk after proposed controls depends on those controls being implemented and checked; it does not establish that they already work. Likelihood can fall while the possible seriousness of an injury remains high.
Worker consultation, reports and observation support review. Significant changes to loads, equipment, route, pace, people or capability can make an earlier assessment invalid. See HSE risk management guidance.
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